Lightning-rod



(No Model.)

' T. H.- PATEE.

LIGHTNING R01). No. 282,562. Patented Aug. 7, 1883.

" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

THEODORUS H. PATEE, OF GREENOASTLE, INDIAA.

LIGHTNING-ROD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 282,562, clated August 7, 1 883.

Application filed August 2, 1882. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEoDoRUs H. PATEE, of Greencastle, in the county of Putnam and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in -Lightningv-Rods; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to lightning-rods; and the novelty consists in the construction, arrangement, and adaptation of parts7 as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, and specifieallypointed out iii the claini.

The object of the invention is to provide a noveland efficient lightning-rod, combining simplicity, usefulness, and ease of manufacture, and .a cheap and efiicient coupling for the sections thereof, formed of sheet-copper.

To these ends the invention consists, essentially, in a single slieet of metal (copper preferred) of such proper diniensions that when forined as dcsribed the said metal will present three external ribs, and acent-ral cylinder or tube whicli is adapted to closely embrace the rod, as illust-rated. The ribs are formed by folding or bending the metal upon itsel'f until the sides approxiniate the saine, and the plane portion of the metal blank, between each. two of the ribs, is curved longitudinally, so as to deseribe an are of a cirele corresponding to the circumference of the center rod. This construction not only affords great strength to the rod with a mininum quantity of metal, but the cylindrical or tubular portion of the sheatli so closely einbraees the center rod that the friction between them greatly enhances its power to resist. The Sections of the rod thus constructed are coupled together by the following means: Two plates yof sheet copper are by any proper and well-known method or means formed into coupling-sections each having a three-ribbed shank, a body, and a worm-grooved engaging portion, the said portion of one beiiig slightly smaller than that of the other, and adapted to operate therein. The ribs of the coupling-section readily receive the ribs of the 'rod, and the two series of the ribs thus connected afford eonvenient means for securing the parts together.

This invention is designed as an improvenient upon the patent granted to myself May 1G, 1882, and numbered 257,891, lthe improvement, in simplicity of construction and cheapness of manu'facture, be'ing apparent. I have discovered that in constructions where coupling is effected by the spiral projections of one section Operating within the other in the nianner of a quick-screw connection are not reliable, and a slight irregularity renders the ready manipulation of the parts diffieult if not impossible; and this objection arises from the fact of there being but a slight leverage. In this invention the worm-grooves describe, essentially, a screw-thread pitch affording many times the holding-surface to the same longitudiiial area.

In the draw'ings, Figure 1 represents alongitudinal elevation, and Fig. 2 a cross-section through the line w a; of Fig. 1, of a lightningrod and coupling constructed in accordance with my improvements. A represents the blank of slieet cooper bent upon itself and shaped to form spiral ribs a, and a central cylindrical or tubular portion, a, which closelyenibraces and holds by fric- ,tion the center rod, B.

C represents the section-eoupling having ribbed shanks c, body c', and grooves ci, the latter portion of one section Operating in the manner of a screw-thread within the corre- Vsponding portion of the other, and the ribs of the shank c reeeiving ribs a of the rod A and secured togetlier atf.

Having thus deseribed my invention, what I elaim iS- A sectionallightning-rod, each section being eonstrueted of a single piece of metal hava', the central rod, B, and the eoupling O, for

coupling the Sections together, each couplingsection having at one end a ribbed shank, c', adapted to receive and hold the ribs a, and at its opposite end a worm-greove, 02, the grooves 02 being adapted to engage together, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed niy signature in presence of two witnesses THEoDoRUs n.V PATEE.

IOO 

